I received a question from someone on Google+ today and I think both the question and my answer are worth a dedicated post.
Online information can often lead to more rather than less confusion when it comes to choosing software products.
The Original Question
Lance, I just read your review of Corel and note that you still like PowerDirector better.
PD sounds like the perfect program for me, but I’m disturbed by the awful reviews on Amazon and the fact that I can’t find any user (vs. professional) reviews that are positive.
I’m not a techie so the user experience matters to me.
Do you have any input about the poor reviews here?
There aren’t many but they’re all I could find: User Reviews of PD 11 on Amazon
My Answer
Hi Michele,
OK! I have taken a look at those reviews and they are pretty bad huh?!
So first up please don’t jump at any product until we get this sorted because all this needs to get placed into perspective.
My take on the value of user comments/reviews etc. is covered to some degree here under User Forums and how to place them in the overall context of choosing the right editor for you.
The reviews on Amazon are largely in my opinion, quite useless because they are generally from gushing fans who see no evil or from people who expect software as complex as a video editor to be like a toaster. Just plug it in and make me look like a genius.
The people least likely to write a review / comment or post to a forum are those that bought it, installed it and have been using it happily ever since.
The question is, “Did any of these people really take the time to sort out the problem or did they just yell at their computer screens expecting a result?”
Of the four reviews posted what stands out is that only one reviewer actually indicated he tried through customer service, to resolve the problem unsuccessfully.
- None of the reviewers indicate they went to the CyberLink forum to resolve their problem.
I know that really shouldn’t have to be an option but let’s get real here.
Customer service ain’t what it used to be anywhere these days so CyberLink is hardly “special” in this regard.
- Only one of the reviewers indicated a possible source of the problem, a conflict with an existing video card and it’s associated software, and was actually fine after that problem was solved.
- All complained of a slow editing experience but none stated what type of files they were using and the full specs of the computer they were working on.
This is vital information given the enormous stress the software has to place on the system when editing the modern batch of highly compressed video files.
- None of the reviewers state specifically what actions they were trying to accomplish with the software to give any indication as to the source of the problem.
Now let me be clear here.
I am in no way interested in defending PowerDirector or any other software for that matter just because it is featured here on my site.
If it is crap then I don’t even bother to put it here!
So what can we really learn from this?
There are four people whose experience with the software was bad enough for them to take the time to post a negative review.
What we can’t see is just what percentage of users they represent because the total sales figures for this group (Amazon buyers) is not available to us.
If you go to the PD11 forum here: CyberLink Forum
Take a look at the posts and you will see there are a few problems in motion at the moment but solutions are being offered quite rapidly.
If you go to the VideoStudio Forum here: VideoStudio Forum
Take a look at the posts and you will see there are a few problems in motion at the moment but solutions are being offered quite rapidly.
If you go to the Premiere Elements forum here… well, I am sure you get the picture!
There is no perfect solution in this field and there are so many variables, the greatest of which is not the software but the enormous range of computer configurations that exist in the marketplace.
My top choice remains PD11 and has been for a while now. However the ONLY point upon which it retains that position this year in my opinion (please note the word opinion there!) is that it renders faster that the rest.
The new VideoStudio version is great too!
All I can do is try to find some way to separate them for you so you can at least get closer to a choice.
…. and please, use the free trials. This is exactly what they are for. If one plays up on your system, then try the other and see how you go.
If you get a problem, go to the forum and see if it is a general problem or is it unique to your system, your type of video files…. whatever.
If you hit something you can’t deal with you can:
a. Contact me again and we can try to work it out.
b. Take a wild guess, buy any old thing and feel secure in the knowledge that you can forever blame me!
(I personally recommend “a.” but hey, it’s up to you!
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